I tried the hot new app Sarahah and I can't stop reading the negative comments

If you could say anything to your friends anonymously, what would you say? Now you can using the new app Sarahah. But, is the candor worth it?

Author:
Ryan Wood

Published:
12:17 PM EDT August 9, 2017

I broke the first rule of the internet.

I read the comments.

The latest internet craze is an app where friends, family, and strangers can leave anonymous comments about you.

It’s as brilliantly wonderful and perfectly awful as you might think it is.

Don’t get me wrong. I knew what I was getting into when I signed up for an account. I knew people wouldn’t hold back. After all, how hard is it to say awful things when you’re hiding behind internet anonymity? What I didn’t expect was my obsession with the negative comments.

The app is called Sarahah. The creator bills it as a way to “get honest feedback from coworkers and friends.” The company said it's the number one app in 30 countries. Sarahah also had more than 250 million visitors and more than one billion page views in a month. After seeing a lot of my friends sign up, I decided to give it a go.

Here’s how it went.

I told myself I wouldn’t check the comments until the next day. I kept that promise.

The morning after I shared the link on Facebook and invited constructive criticism, I checked – nervously -- to see how many people gave their two cents.

The problem isn’t the app. Sarahah gives us a place to share honest feedback. The problem is how people are using the app -- to be ruthless, rude, and just plain mean.

Yeah, I had a few praises on my page. But, they were totally overshadowed by the negative responses. And, mine weren’t THAT negative. I can’t imagine what vile things other people are reading. In the app store, Sarahah is rated for ages 17 and older.

Look, I don’t want to get on a soapbox, but I’m pretty sure I’m already up here. So, I might as well make the most of it.

Why do we need an internet craze to share our true opinions with each other? Especially if we’re sharing with friends … Shouldn’t we ALREADY be honest with each other?